Teacher's night out ends in 20-year sentence

A former high school educator in Idaho was sentenced to a minimum of two years in prison after pleading guilty to the sexual assault of a minor, with a potential maximum sentence of 20 years. According to court records, Jessica Lawson, 36, entered a guilty plea for two counts of the charge as part of a plea agreement.

Lawson's sentencing took place after he was arrested in St. Anthony, Idaho, in November 2023. When law enforcement officers pulled over a vehicle with a malfunctioning taillight, they apprehended Lawson. Lawson was seated in the passenger seat while a teenage boy was driving the car. According to authorities, Lawson allegedly advised the teen driver to operate the vehicle due to her inebriation.

According to court documents, the charges of giving alcohol to a minor and giving out a controlled substance were dismissed due to the plea deal. The scenario changed when the parents of the boy informed authorities that Lawson had taken their son the previous night. The young individual allegedly confessed to getting alcohol and marijuana from Lawson before participating in sexual intercourse.

While being questioned by the police, the young man admitted to the sexual encounter with Lawson, who was working as a teacher at South Fremont High School when the incident took place. Besides the prison term, the court has also enforced a 20-year no-contact order between Lawson and the victim.